Is Divestment Anti-Semitic?

The current discussion on divestment as it relates to the Middle East casts a new light on persistent themes in Christian-

The current discussion on
divestment as it relates to the Middle East casts a new light on
persistent themes in Christian-Jewish relations. We are on
relatively new ground when we try to analyze the many peaceful
options for pressing Israel to end the occupation - including
constructive engagement, divestment, criticizing the positions
taken by Jews and Israelis over the 38-year long occupation of
the West Bank and Gaza, or querying the policies of the State of
Israel.

I believe that most Christians are seeking a moral response to
the occupation, looking for constructive engagement to end the
statelessness of Palestinians by ensuring safety for both
Israelis and Palestinians, most pragmatically by a two-state
solution.

Many liberal and progressive Christians are stung by the lack
of basic trust expressed by the organized Jewish community toward
Presbyterians and other religious groups seeking a moral response
to the occupation (see "Should Churches Divest?" page
22). Jewish organizations and many rank-and-file Jews assume that
the mantle of the primary victimhood remains with and belongs to
Jews/Israelis. There is very little comprehension of the
Palestinians - their plight or their rights. Jews need to
consider: Who will speak up on behalf of Christian Palestinians
if not their co-religionists around the world? Who will speak up
for Muslim Palestinians?

Jews who seek the welfare of both Israelis and Palestinians
should encourage creative engagement, including phased selective
divestments highlighting the moral corruption at the heart of the
occupation. The recent shareholder resolution calling on
Caterpillar to investigate how its bulldozers are used in Israel
and Palestine illustrates a positive strategic and moral use of
this tactic to call attention to a wrong - the occupation. The
resolution reminded Caterpillar of its responsibility as a
corporate citizen. Do actions like this matter? Are they
effective? My answer is yes.

In contrast, the British Association of University Teachers
recently took action - later rescinded - to boycott Israeli
universities in response to the branch of Bar-Ilan University
that Israel set up in the West Bank settlement of Ariel. I
believe the boycott was counterproductive. Much of the internal
opposition to the occupation comes from the Israeli universities
(albeit not Bar-Ilan); I believe they should be encouraged, not
boycotted.

What has changed? Many previous generations of Christians
regarded the accusation of anti-Semite as a badge of honor.
Historically, the few Christians who disavowed anti-Semitism did
so for tactical reasons, mainly hoping to encourage Jews to
commit apostasy against the faith of their ancestors. Sadly, if
you were an anti-Semite, that often proved your genuineness as a
Christian. Jews still remember those days.

Remembering that context helps us to understand the courage
shown by the Presbyterians and others who have dared to publicly
state the obvious - that Israels occupation of the West
Bank and Gaza is based on "oppression and injustice."
Those are the words of Avrum Burg, speaker of the Israeli Knesset
from 1999 to 2003, who said of the occupation, "A structure
built on human callousness will inevitably collapse in on
itself." Burg is an orthodox Jew who knows that, even while
operating in a secular parliament, the choice is between owning
holy real estate and becoming a holy people.

Until recently, Presbyterians and others muted their voices
when expressing concern for Palestinians and especially the
Christian Palestinian community. The lack of dialogue over the
Middle East never worried American Jews and Israelis until
recently. The shrill, over-the-top rhetoric from the official
Jewish community misrepresents the Presbyterian stance. The tacit
agreement between American Jews and Christians to ignore the
Middle East is now breached.

Jews must not automatically assume the ill will of Christians
seeking to make known their moral position. The treatment of the
Palestinian minority in Israel and the Palestinians - Christian
and Muslim - under occupation is a matter of justice that will
influence how Jews fare in their various diasporas. It is
important that Jews care about the future of Palestinians, too.

Haim Dov Beliak was rabbi of Beth Shalom of Whittier,
California, and executive director of HaMifgash: An On-Going
Conversation Among Jewish Intellectuals, when this article appeared.

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